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11:44 am

Fri October 21, 2011

Obama: 'War In Iraq Is Over'; All Troops Will Withdraw By Year's End

A few minutes ago, President Obama announced that the war in Iraq was over.

"After nearly nine years, the long war in Iraq will come to an end by the end of this year," the president said. President Obama said he talked to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki earlier today and they were both in complete agreement about how to proceed. Obama said that "as promised" by the end of the year all troops will withdraw from the country.

He said that this means the relationship between Iraq and the United States will now be a normal one between two sovereign countries.

He added: "Our troops in Iraq will definitely be home for the holidays."

We live blogged the president's statement and that follows:

Update at 12:53 p.m. ET. 'The Tide Of War Is Receding...'

President Obama said this statement makes a broader statement. "The tide of war is receding," he said.

Update at 12:50 p.m. ET. Sovereign Nations:

President Obama said he talked to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and they were both in complete agreement about how to proceed. Obama said that "as promised" by the end of the year all troops will withdraw from the country.

He said that this means the relationship between Iraq and the United States will now be a normal one between two sovereign countries.

He added: "Our troops in Iraq will definitely be home for the holidays."

Update at 12:48 p.m. ET. 'The Rest Of Our Troops Will Come Home'

President Obama says that after nearly nine years, "The long war in Iraq will come to an end by the end of this year."

Update at 12:46 p.m. ET. All Troops Will Withdraw:

Multiple news organizations are reporting that President Obama will announce that all American troops will be out of Iraq by the end of the year. The announcement would announce that after eight years, the war in Iraq would be over.

Our Original Post Continues:

President Obama is expected to make a statement shortly about the number of U.S. troops who will stay in Iraq beyond 2011. According to the AP, the president's statement will follow a video conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.